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HIGHLINE notes May 2022

Local teen’s encounter with downed power lines, page 4 Long-term employee Ron Ness retires from the ND One Call board, page 8

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May 2022 | Highline Notes 1

editorial Annual meeting recap

Marshal Albright, Cass County Electric Cooperative president & CEO as the board chair since 2018. Marcy’s passion for Cass County Electric’s success was evident in the board room, using her exceptional leadership skills and command of the Board to drive the Cooperative’s mission. I thank Marcy for her years of service on the Board and wish her the best in her new position.

Our 84th Annual Meeting is now behind us. The following is a brief recap of the meeting. We usually have three districts up for election each year at our Annual Meeting. Director Glenn Mitzel, District 6, and Director Kalvin Hoff, District 8, were re-elected in an uncontested election. In February, Marcy Svenningsen, District 1, chose to withdraw as a candidate for good reasons. The Biden Administration recently appointed Director Svenningson from District 1 to fill the role of Executive Director for ND Farm Service Agency. Because of her new position, Marcy had to resign from the Cass County Electric board. I have worked with Marcy

Members who reside in District 1 interested in serving on the Board can contact Karen Egeberg at 701-3564400 for more information about the commitment to serve as a director. Interested director candidates will need to fill out a board of directors’ application packet. The Board will then review and approve qualified candidates, interview the candidates, and appoint a director for District 1 to fill the seat until the annual meeting in 2023. Our guest speaker was Mac McLennan, CEO of Minnkota Power Cooperative. Mac spoke about the latest power industry challenges. His presentation focused on our changing energy landscape of balancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability. We recognize member expectations are changing, but our ultimate goal is to make sure

we can keep the lights on and your electric bill affordable. Mac also reviewed the day-to-day challenges of supplying power with more intermittent resources added to the generation and transmission mix. At times resources are limited because the wind isn’t blowing, resulting in less power; at other times, wind power generates large amounts of energy, causing market conditions to be more volatile than in previous years, primarily because of transmission congestion. The utility landscape is evolving, the fuel resource mix is changing, and there are expectations for clean energy. Minnkota Power is evaluating options for future power supply, from more wind energy to using natural gas to adding carbon capture and sequestration to our existing coal plants. The State of ND and the federal government understand the need to supply reliable power using fossil fuel resources while limiting carbon emissions. The federal government offers a tax credit called 45Q to incentivize the capture and storage of carbon dioxide. A carbon capture called “Project Tundra” is an option to consider if the price of the capture and storage facility is

CCEC offices will be closed Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day. 2 Highline Notes | May 2022

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Highline Notes

Content in every issue

tech

safety

save

impact

14 15

recipes

ads

Editorial continued: manageable. As we learn more about our future power supply options, we will share the information with our members.

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS FEBRUARY 2022

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 2022

The Cass County Electric board of directors met virtually via Microsoft Teams on February 22, 2022, and discussed the following topics: • Moved to approve the February 2022 consent agenda of the regular board meeting consisting of minutes, monthly department reports, 2021 yearend plant damage report, director expense report, and the January Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA). • President/CEO Marshal Albright gave the president’s report reporting on updates from meetings attended. • Received the January 2022 financial report. • Received reports from the Minnkota and Square Butte board meetings. • Moved to approve annual meeting dates for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026. • Moved to accept the 2021 financial audit as prepared and presented by Eide Bailly, LLP. • Moved to approve the January 2022 capital credit estate payments. • Reviewed upcoming meetings and events. • Voted Director Kalvin Hoff as Minnkota Power Cooperative director nominee for 2022. • Voted director Terry Kraft as Square Butte Power Cooperative director nominee for 2022.

This fall, Minnkota will likely decide on its path for future power supply, focusing on reliability and the best system to keep electricity costs affordable.

The Cass County Electric board of directors met in person on March 29, 2022, and discussed the following topics: • Moved to approve the March 2022 consent agenda of the regular board meeting consisting of minutes, monthly department reports, director expense report, and the February Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA). • President/CEO Marshal Albright gave the president’s report reporting on updates from meetings attended. • Received the February 2022 financial report. • Received reports from the Minnkota board meeting. • Received report on Statewide activities. • Received the year-end 2021 System Reliability Report. • Received the year-end 2021 Construction Work Plan Report. • Received a report on the upcoming 84th annual meeting. • Received the year-end 2021 Operation Round Up Program Report. • Moved to approve the March 2022 capital credit estate payments. • Reviewed upcoming meetings and events. The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 31.

CassCountyElectric.com

Volume 80, Number 5

Communications: Jocelyn Lura Hovland Printer: Forum Communications Printing Board of Directors: District 1 - Open Douglas Anderson Sid Berg Kalvin Hoff, Treasurer Terry Kraft Wendy Loucks Glenn Mitzel, Secretary Thomas J. Seymour Jeff Triebold, Vice Chair Executive Staff: Marshal Albright, President/CEO Jodi Bullinger, VP of Engineering & Operations Paul Matthys, VP of Member & Energy Services Chad Sapa, VP of Corporate Services & CFO Tim Sanden, VP of Information Technology & CIO Highline Notes (USPS 244-740) is published monthly by Cass County Electric Cooperative Inc., 3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200, Fargo, ND 58104. Periodicals postage paid at Fargo, North Dakota 58104, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Highline Notes 3312 42nd St. S., Suite 200 Fargo, ND 58104 © Copyright Cass County Electric Cooperative 2022. All rights reserved. Questions: 701-356-4400 800-248-3292 info@kwh.com Call Before You Dig: 800-795-0555 or 811 Cass County Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Information about the cooperative, articles of incorporation, bylaws and more can be found at CassCountyElectric.com. May 2022 | Highline Notes 3

Local teen’s encounter with downed power lines ‘Mary did everything right’

Most teenagers are quick on their feet, and Mary Gehrig is no exception. Mary was having a good time hanging out with a friend. Realizing that a storm was brewing, she pulled the weather card and used it as an excuse not to leave. As teens often do, Mary led with her most compelling reason. “Oh no, I can’t come home right now. It’s dangerous,” referring to the halfhour drive. Her mom, however, was not buying what Mary was selling. Karen Gehrig’s maternal instinct kicked in, and like moms everywhere, she wanted her daughter home before the skies opened. Mary reluctantly headed home around 9 p.m. On any other evening, 17-year-old Mary’s protest about coming home mixed with a smidge of teenage attitude might have been nothing out of the ordinary. Everyone in the family would be safe and sound and come morning, they would make small talk over muffins

and orange juice. However, on this night, the evening unfolded in a way that no one would have anticipated.

small about the linear obstructions strewn across the roadway.

“By the time I realized it’s on the road, it’s big and I was not going to Her ride home started fine. It was (be able to) drive over it. I was like, raining, but nothing Mary couldn’t I am going to hit this,” Mary recalls. handle. “I’ve never really been afraid She slammed on the brakes and to drive in storms; I’m pretty good her car struck whatever was in the with them,” she explained. road. She said her next thought was, “Oh my gosh, what did I do.” But as she got closer to home, things took a turn for the worse. What she hit was a massive, Mary recalls that many cars had high-voltage transmission power pulled off to the side of the road line that was no longer hung due to low visibility caused by from tower to tower in its proper torrential rains, but since she was place. The wrath of the storm had almost home, she thought she damaged several structures and would keep going. brought down large lines. It was as if nature’s fury was in the ring However, the storm took a drastic with metal transmission towers, turn and got so bad that she was and Mother Nature won the match, driving blind. bending many of them in half with her unapologetic wind shear. After she made one of her last turns onto a county road, she said that Although transmission towers are flashes of lightning illuminated designed to withstand all kinds glimpses of white lines in the of conditions, many of them were distance, but she could not tell irreversibly damaged due to the what they were. As she got closer, storm system that took on a life she realized that there was nothing of its own, becoming much more

4 Highline Notes | May 2022

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volatile than originally forecasted. “You’re looking at all these towers, and they’re doing toe touches,” said Chris Gehrig, Mary’s dad. After Mary’s car came to a stop, she says it began malfunctioning and was rendered undrivable. It was a life-changing moment that could have gone either way, depending on what she did next. Fortunately, Mary’s next thought was to call her parents. “When we learned that she had hit a power line,” her dad Chris recalls, he told Mary in no uncertain terms to, “Stay put. Don’t move. Don’t do anything. Call 9-1-1.” Luckily, her phone’s charge lasted an hour or so after she hit the power line. Fire chief Rich Schock, who was on the scene that night, said, “Those are large transmission lines with a lot of volts in them, and this could get bad fast.” Although Mary experienced a full range of emotions while waiting in her car, she could not get out and first responders could not approach it until it was confirmed that the power lines were deenergized.

This process took some time since the transmission lines were not local and spanned several states. Cass County Electric Cooperative worked closely with the company that owned the transmission lines to ensure that no one would get hurt. If Mary would have gotten out, which she admits she did consider doing at one point, her body could have become the path to ground for the stray voltage and she could have been electrocuted. However, Mary stayed put, and the Gehrigs hope that others will learn from her experience. Her family is quick to credit everyone involved with her safe recovery. “I think Mary did everything right,” Schock said, since Mary stayed inside the vehicle until it was safe to exit. After returning home in the early morning hours, “She was very

happy, probably happier than I’ve ever seen her, to be home and see us,” her mom Karen said. “I feel like that energy and that fritz of ‘this could be the end,’ it helps you appreciate things so much more,” Mary said. “Now, I drive slower. I’m more cautious, especially in the dark. I appreciate my friends and parents more. Having that kind of death-defying moment, it gets to the core of you; it gets to your heart real quick.” To watch Mary’s story and to learn more, visit our YouTube page.

STAY AWAY Downed power lines can be deadly... even if they look harmless.

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May 2022 | Highline Notes 5

Cass County Electric Cooperative (CCEC) would like to thank out-going Director Marcy Svenningsen for her ten years of exemplary service on the CCEC board of directors. She was recently appointed as the Executive Director for the ND Farm Service Agency. Svenningsen was first elected to the board in April 2012 to the cooperative’s first at-large director position. In 2020, she was appointed to fulfill the open seat in District 1. During her tenure with the cooperative, Svenningsen served as the chairman of the board of directors since 2018. Prior to that, she served as board secretary during 2016 and 2017. Svenningsen represented the cooperative on the Square Butte Electric Cooperative board from 2013-2020 and the Minnkota Power Cooperative board from 20202022. Svenningsen earned the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate in 2013 and the NRECA Board Leadership Certificate in 2016.

Thank you! Attention District 1 Members If you are a Cass County Electric Cooperative member and interested in becoming a director in District 1, contact Karen at 701-356-4405 for a director application packet. Return the packet to the cooperative by May 31, 2022. Elected directors serve a three-year term, while this position must run again in 2023. Nominees must be a bona fide resident of District 1. The names of all candidates who submit the required information in the time and manner specified in Article III. Section 3.6 of the bylaws will be interviewed by a credentialing committee during June. The credentialing committee may require candidates to provide and verify additional information deemed relevant, with a director to be appointed by the June 28 board of directors meeting. More information can be found at CassCountyElectric.com/Board-Directors.

6 Highline Notes | May 2022

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tech

When your AC croaks, call the heat pump folks You’ve had your trusty air conditioner for years, and it hasn’t let you down. Yet. When the time comes – and it will – for a more efficient, more versatile, money-saving replacement, Cass County Electric Cooperative recommends researching an air-source heat pump (ASHP) or a ductless mini-split heat pump. These modern technologies will not only help you fight the North Dakota summer heat, but they’ll also warm you up when the state transitions to its famously cold winters. Show us an air conditioner that can do that!

Air Conditioner

ASHP

Mini-Split ASHP

How it works

Absorbs heat inside and expels it from your home, returning the cooled air into the home

Works like an air conditioner in the summer, but creates the reverse process to warm your home in the winter (throughout the home, using ductwork)

Works like an air conditioner in the summer, but creates the reverse process to warm your home in the winter (zones of the home, no ductwork needed)

Versatility

Only used during the warm months when home cooling is needed

Offers heating and cooling through every season

Offers heating and cooling through every season, can be installed in any room or space

Efficiency

Efficiency differs, but some wall-mounted units only provide spot cooling and air can leak through seals

Highly efficient technology, with no fear of air leaks

Off-peak program qualified

Yes (nearly half of standard electric rate with voluntary enrollment)

Rebate available

Yes (up to $500)

Bonus winter benefit: Electric ASHP heating is much more efficient and cost effective than fuel heat technology, delivering up to three times more energy than the electricity it uses. Plus, stable electric rates will help you protect yourself from ever-volatile propane and gas prices. Call the energy experts at Cass County Electric to find the heating & cooling system that works best for your home!

CassCountyElectric.com

May 2022 | Highline Notes 7

We recently sat down with long-term employee, Ron Ness, to discuss his upcoming retirement from the North Dakota One Call board. Ness has served for two decades. Tell us about your career at Cass County Electric Cooperative. In early 1987 I started my career at CCEC in Kindred as a staking engineer, and in 1993 started my supervisory/management responsibilities. My diverse 35year career at CCEC included various experiences such as system analysis, design, field staking, right-of-away acquisition, power quality, GIS, SCADA, plant accounting, distributed generation, DG interconnection, AMI, system operations, maintenance, and supervisory/ management responsibilities. I had the privilege of co-authoring CCEC’s first in-house construction work plan in 1991 and have supervised pretty much every department in Engineering & Operations. I’m currently the manager of system operations and I’ve been supervising power control and the locating department for the past 30 years. I have experience in managing after-hours dispatching services for numerous entities, as well as contract locating services for the Fargo, West Fargo, and Kindred area. I was appointed as a Director to the North Dakota One Call Board in 2002, where I have been representing ND electrical transmission and distribution operators for the past 20 years.

What were your most remarkable successes or accomplishments while serving on the ND One Call board? My most memorable accomplishment was chairing a committee of stakeholders to work out differences in a Design/ Survey draft bill that had been distributed for comment in 2006, just prior to the 2007 legislative session. The committee’s goal was to draft legislation through committee consensus and distribute for comments for introduction at a future legislative session. The “Non-Excavate Locate” working committee was comprised of two representatives from the Surveyors Society, two from the Engineering Association, one from the Locators Association, and four NDOC Board members. The Survey Ticket created by this committee was eventually included as part of the changes added to the ND One Call Law in 2017. Describe how you first got involved with ND One Call. Brad Schmidt, the VP of engineering and operations at the time, encouraged me In 2002 to throw my hat in the ring to represent the ND electric utility industry on the NDOC board when Doug Foy with Xcel Energy in Grand Forks announced his retirement from the board.

8 Highline Notes | May 2022

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With the fast pace of new technology implementation, how do you see the work of ND One Call changing in the future? I expect at some point, utilities will provide excavators with subfoot accuracy GPS coordinate data for their underground plant locations rather than physically marking the plant in the field, and excavators will then use the utility provided GPS coordinate data to safely excavate near or carefully expose those facilities using smart GPS-enabled excavation equipment. VP of engineering and operations, Jodi Bollinger weighs in. Commitment to Community is one of the core values at CCEC; this was shown by Ron’s 20-year service on the ND One-Call-Board representing electric utilities. Ron is passionate about safety, especially when it comes to digging around underground electric lines. His knowledge and impact on changes made to the ND One Call Law during his service on the board were not only valuable to all ND utility stakeholders. Ron has been a long-time advocate for the ND One Call system and has used his vast utility experience to improve the program to what it is today.

Know the APWA Color Code WHITE: Proposed excavation PINK: Temporary survey markings RED: Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables YELLOW: Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or gaseous materials ORANGE: Communication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit BLUE: Potable water PURPLE: Reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines GREEN: Sewer and drain lines

safety Let the digging begin!

Power outages caused by damage to underground cables increase in the spring and summer. Call 8-1-1 before you dig. It’s easy, and it’s the law. Fifty-one percent of Cass County Electric Cooperative’s 5,794 miles of power lines are buried underground. Though these lines are safe from high winds and accidental vehicle damage, they are susceptible to another threat every spring. Once the ground thaws, landscaping and construction projects take off and so do accidental dig-ins to underground power lines. Outdoor projects can cause big problems if you do not plan ahead. Digging into power lines can cause outages for the whole neighborhood; it also can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening. It’s not just buried power lines that you have to worry about, either. Water, sewer, gas, and telecommunications equipment are often right underfoot. Luckily, there’s an easy process to keep you safe.

Two days before you work, visit ndonecall.com or call 8-1-1. You’ll provide details about the work you’re doing and ND One Call will alert the appropriate utility companies. Once a request is made, the companies have 48 hours to mark the locations of buried equipment. The paint or flags they leave behind will be your guide to safety. On a related note, we remind you to keep a clear space around transformers – 10 feet in front and 3 feet on each side – so workers can access them. Tall, decorative grasses that can bend and restore themselves are okay, but anything else planted within the listed space may be damaged or removed. Safety is the number one priority at Cass County Electric Cooperative. Before you pick up the shovel, visit ndonecall.com or dial 8-1-1.

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May 2022 | Highline Notes 9

ANATOMY OF A

LINEWORKER

It takes brains, brawn, and bravery to be a lineworker for a rural electric cooperative – and it also takes a whole lot of equipment. When it comes to building and maintaining our power lines, Cass County Electric Cooperative always puts safety first. Our lineworkers sometimes carry more than 50 pounds of protective equipment and gear as they climb a power pole, depending on what is needed for the job. Even before they think about picking up additional tools, a lineworker will start will these basic accessories to keep them safe and efficient.

HAND LINE

HAND LINE BLOCK

This is a lineworker’s lifeline. Complete with steel clips and a pulley block, this rope, which hangs from a pole’s cross arm, is strong enough for any job – from the routine hoisting of equipment to lifesaving missions.

Lineworkers can’t carry everything up on a pole, and the pulley block – the signature component of the hand line – is used to raise and lower heavy equipment.

TOOL POUCH

HARD HAT A hard hat provides insulated protection against electrical hazards and shields the head from blows and falling objects.

WOOD POLE FALL PROTECTION BELT Before a lineworker starts climbing a pole, they loop a safety strap around the pole and rehook the strap to their equipment belt. This serves as an added safety precaution and allows the lineworker to work with both hands free.

DITTY BAG This canvas bag hangs from the equipment belt and holds the materials that lineworkers need at the ready for any number of jobs.

This bag hangs from the back of the equipment belt and carries a wide variety of tools, such as pliers and wrenches.

GAFFS Razor-sharp steel points are strapped to boots for climbing poles. Only the tips dig into wood, helping lineworkers climb more safely and efficiently.

BOOTS These boots help prevent lineworkers from gaffing themselves in the leg. Serrated heels provide a better grip and steel shanks provide extra support on the pole.

#ThankALineworker

10 Highline Notes | May 2022 CassCountyElectric.com

save Virtual home-energy audits Is your home using energy efficiently? Unless it was built quite recently to stringent energy efficiency standards, there are bound to be areas of your home where you can improve efficiency, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint. In a perfect world, your best option is to hire a trained professional to conduct a full-blown, in-home energy audit. This usually involves a detailed inspection of your home’s insulation levels, HVAC system, lighting, appliances and exterior space. A professional energy auditor will typically conduct a blower door test to check pressurization and spot hard-to-find leaks in the exterior. In addition, a professional may use a duct blaster to identify leaks in your home’s ductwork. One drawback to the in-home energy audit is finding a time that works with your busy schedule. An energy audit can take several hours when done correctly, which means you might have to take time off from work, farm out the pets, get help with the kids and their after

school activities and so forth. Luckily, there is a viable alternative: the online or “virtual” home energy audit. These online tools have come a long way over the last 10 years. Today’s online energy audits are user-friendly and take only a few minutes to complete. An online energy audit can provide an assessment of your home’s energy efficiency and typically provides helpful tips on how to reduce energy waste. The audits utilize sophisticated computer models that generally use local housing types––factoring in the age, size, flooring and construction materials of the home––and local weather data. These audits typically come close to actual energy bills when fed the correct information. Amazing! True, the audit won’t provide a pressurization test of your home and ductwork, but it is a convenient start. A word of caution: be careful when using online energy audit software provided by organizations other than utilities, government agencies CassCountyElectric.com

or universities. Unfortunately, some companies may try to obtain information to sell their own products and services. If you see phrases like, “Learn what your power company does not want you to know” or the site looks like a marketing page, CCEC suggests moving on. Unless you are dealing with a trusted utility, do not provide any personal information outside of your physical address (for data accuracy) or an email address for receiving a full report. If an online energy audit doesn’t interest you, fear not. The Department of Energy offers a DIY energy audit section on their website: http://energy.gov/ energysaver/do-it-yourself-homeenergy-audits The bottom line? Choose the energy audit that works for you, then implement as many of the recommendations as you can. Even taking small steps can add up to significant results and you’ll see the benefits in your utility bills for years to come.

May 2022 | Highline Notes 11

save

Off-peak program: water heating Next to heating and cooling your home, water heating is the largest user of energy. If you are looking for ways to save money, we may be able to help through our off-peak program. This program offers a reduced rate in exchange for the ability to interrupt water heaters. If you are interested in saving money, but want to manage your energy use on your own terms, CCEC is now piloting a time-of-day rate. Contact us at energy@kwh.com to learn more.

INCENTIVES FOR WATER HEATERS INSTALLED ON OFF-PEAK: NEW INSTALLATION CREDIT

$450

Replacement of an existing water heater

GAS-TO-ELECTRIC CONVERSION $250

In addition to $450 new installation credit

NEW CONSTRUCTION

In addition to $450 new installation credit

$100

~ Water heaters must be 100+ gallons and on long-term control to qualify. Credits will be applied to the

electric bill after a visit from a Cass County Electric Cooperative technician. These one-time incentives are in addition to the discounted off-peak electric rate. All incentives are subject to final approval from Cass County Electric Cooperative.

SHORT-TERM CONTROL Size: Less than 100 Gallons Potential control: • Up to 4 hours at a time • Up to twice per day • No summer control Metering options: • On off-peak meter: First 400 kWh at 6.9 cents • On main meter: $6.50/month credit (Minimum use of 300 kWh) Short-term control does not qualify for incentives

LONG-TERM CONTROL Size: Greater than 100 Gallons Potential control: • Cycled from 7 AM to 12 PM daily Nov.-Apr. and • Cycled from 5 PM to 11 PM daily Nov.-Apr. • Possible summer control Metering options: • On off-peak meter: First 400 kWh at 5.2 cents • On main meter: $13/month credit (Minimum use of 300 kWh) All rates subject to purchase power adjustment

12 Highline Notes | May 2022 CassCountyElectric.com

impact

Operation Round Up Cass County Electric Cooperative Foundation Cass County Electric Cooperative members that round their bills up, and employees that round down their paychecks, have raised more than $3.5 million for local nonprofit organizations. These funds benefit members within Cass County Electric Cooperative’s service area. If your nonprofit organization is interested in applying for funds, please visit CassCountyElectric.com/oru.

March 2022

Applications reviewed Organization Individual Emergency Applications approved Organization Individual Emergency Applications denied Applications tabled

14 1 0 12 1 0 2 0

$67,000 $3,000 $0

2022 Year-to-date summary Per member average contribution $0.99 Average member participation 82.1% Total income $40,112 (Includes contributions, interest earned, and donations/memorials.)

Applications approved

Featured recipient: SENDCAA Community Action Agencies involve the community, including elected public officials, private sector representatives, and lowincome residents, in assessing local needs and attacking the causes and conditions of poverty. Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency (SENDCAA) works to raise awareness and help people. Their programs include: Child & Adult Care Food Program Ensures the nutritional wellbeing of children through education, financial assistance, and professional training of Home Child Care providers.

Child Care Center Full-day, year-round services for Head Start and low-income families, providing a safe and friendly environment that encourages children to learn.

Region V Community Development Corporation Planning, developing, owning, and managing affordable housing projects in southeastern North Dakota.

Head Start Birth to Five Provides services to low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, and educational needs. Head Start offers a preschool curriculum for threeand four-year-olds and a full-day/ part-day classroom for three-to five-year-olds.

Self-Sufficiency Provides a variety of services designed to improve the standard of living and help promote the self-sufficiency of low-income individuals.

CassCountyElectric.com

Energy & Rehab The nation’s core program for delivering energy efficiency services to low-income households.

May 2022 | Highline Notes 13

recipes Quick and easy

Email recipes to ccec@kwh.com or mail to: Cass County Electric; Highline Notes, 4100 32nd Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104

North Dakota ranchers’ eggs Ingredients

Ooey gooey monster cookies

½ teaspoon cumin 16-ounce can black beans 2 cups of your favorite salsa 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 round corn tortillas 1 tablespoon butter 4 large eggs 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese

Ingredients

Preparation

Drain black beans, warm in pan, add 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, salt and pepper to taste, mash slightly. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil. When olive oil ripples, add salsa and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, begin warming beans in a separate pan. Transfer cooked salsa to bowl and cover to keep warm. Wipe out skillet and heat over medium heat. Add tortillas in single layer to dry skillet (working in batches as needed), cook until warm and slightly toasted, turning as needed. Remove and cover to keep warm. Heat skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with a bit of butter. Fry eggs to preference; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add additional butter as needed. Spread beans over tortilla and top with fried eggs, layer with cooked salsa, and cheese. Add chopped fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, jalapeno, or fresh corn as desired. Serves 2.

½ cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 3 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 2 tsp. karo syrup 2 tsp. baking soda 1 ½ cup peanut butter 4 ½ cup oatmeal ¾ cup M&M’s ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ¾ cup butterscotch chocolate chips (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Mix in order given. Drop cookies onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

Monte Cristo sandwich Ingredients

Jam, your favorite flavor 2 slices hearty white bread or sourdough 2 ounces sliced deli ham 2 ounces sliced deli turkey 2 slices Swiss cheese 3 large eggs, beaten ½ cup half & half ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Preparation

Place bread slices onto a clean surface and top with deli ham. Top ham with a slice of cheese, followed by the turkey and remaining slice of cheese. Finish with the remaining slice of bread and gently press together. In a shallow baking dish whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Place butter in a skillet and melt over medium to medium-high heat. Dip sandwich into the egg

14 Highline Notes | May 2022 CassCountyElectric.com

batter, both sides, and quickly but carefully transfer to the hot skillet. Cook sandwich for 4 minutes or until golden brown, flip and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully pick the sandwich up and quickly sear all the edges (crust) of the sandwich. Transfer to a cutting board and allow sandwich to cool for about 5 minutes. Dust lightly with powdered sugar. Cut sandwich in half and serve with a side of jam. Serves 1.

ads

Decades of value

Member market

All ads must be 40 words or fewer and will be abbreviated following our guidelines. No real estate or commercial ads will be accepted. Ads are published for members at no charge as space permits on a first-received, first-printed basis. Ads are due by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Members may submit only one ad per issue. Editor reserves the right to edit or reject any ad. Email ads to: ccec@kwh.com.

For sale: Never used walker. 701-866-0218 Best Home Furnishings lift chair recliner; all-steel mechanism, adjustable lumbar support, $450. 701-866-3737 ReSound Preza hearing aids w/ charger, 2-yrs-old, seldom worn, $500. 701-866-3737 Two 18-speed Schwinn bicycles (1994, one 21”, one 23”). 10-gal Red Wing crock. 20-gallon RobinsonRansbottom crock. Sauerkraut cutter. Lakeside Foundry “Sun295” laundry stove. Grade school desk w/ attached swivel seat. Located near Fargo. 217-549-7846 Folding treadmill, $100. 8x10 white/ gray/black rug, $100. Cobalt toolbox, $30. NuWave air fryer, $10. 701-3712961

Wooden hand-made doll house 49” wide x 14” deep and 25” tall with a higher peaked roof. 7-rooms wallpapered and furnished. Some purchased and some handmade. Not Barbie size, $60/OBO. Extra: Sunshine doll family, $20. 701-4903161 GE electric clothes dryer, 5 years old. Works perfectly, color white, $200. 701-282-0827 Vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster model 12, $117. Bread Man model TR550B bread making machine and baking basket, $64. Vintage Royal Buffett Automatic Coffee Percolator, $47. Antique Fisher Price toy collection, 6 different sets, $177 for all. 14 vintage toys, $17 for all. Call 701-234-0204 Wanted: Tikka T3X 25-06. 701-730-4882

Pride Mobility Jazzy model electric wheelchair. $350. Delivery possible. 701-840-2803

Pump up air rifle by Benjamin Sheridan or Crossman. Must have all wood stock. 701-437-3259

2003 Mercury Sable LS Premium 4D, engine runs well, body could use work, make offer. 605-310-9836

Sheep shearing equipment. Entire machine and/or parts. 701-240-0488

2 maroon lazy boy rocker recliners, $1,150/ea. 701-566-7165 Bassett living room tables. 3-piece sectional. Dining room chairs. Two 1950s tables. Two antique highchairs. Fargo. 217-549-7846 Eastern Tool and Equipment 4 stroke air cooled OHV 389cc generator, $425. Dual tank electric air compressor $250. Call or text 701367-4789

Dog bathtub for large sized breed. 701-371-4933

Men’s slacks

1937... $3.98 2022... $42.00 Increase...10.5x

Electricity

1937... 5¢/kwh 2022... 11¢/kwh Increase...2x

Motorcycles and ATVs. Any make/ models/years/condition. 701-361-7289 Older stereo components (receivers, amps, CD players, speakers, and turntables), music CDs, and Albums. Please call or text with photos of what you have to 701-541-7852

CassCountyElectric.com

Affordable, reliable electricity is something you can count on as a cooperative member. While the cost of everyday items has increased, the cost of electricity has remained a powerful value. May 2022 | Highline Notes 15

800-248-3292 | CassCountyElectric.com 4100 32nd Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104

Join us for some summer fun! Super-Hero Night June 7 at 7 p.m. FM RedHawks at Newman Outdoor Field The first 500 kids receive a superhero cape—$ 7 reserved tickets for essential workers. Chutes & Boots Bull Riding June 4 & 5 from 5 – 9 p.m. Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights Discounted tickets available

The Arthur Market, in partnership with CCEC June 18 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Arthur City Park on 4th Ave Free Event Family Fun Wilderness Night June 20 from 5 – 9 p.m. Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights Free family fun

Justin Moore Concert June 11 at 7 p.m. Midco Stage at Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights Discounted tickets are available

Visit CassCountyElectric.com/Events or scan the QR code for event details. 16 Highline Notes | May 2022 CassCountyElectric.com